Commuting - Fairfax County Parkway Trail Virginia

Anyone on here ever ridethis trail from kingstowne/Springfield to the W&OD trail near Herndon? My office just moved so I am going to be commuting about 25 miles and this trail looks kind of sketchy.

Funny you should ask.
On my Sunday ride I took part of the FxCPW trail. My fiirst time on it.
I rode thru Fairfax City and down route 123 to where it crosses the Parkway, intending to switch to the Parkway Trail and take it up to the W&OD. First thing I discovered was that the Parkway Trail only went south from 123. Had to take the 123 trail back up to Burke Center Parkway to get back to the Parkway Trail. Almost missed the sign.

The ride on the Parkway Trail was not as pleasant as I had hoped. The paving is in mostly acceptable condition, but there was a lot of debris and broken glass on the trail. And although the trail is well separated from the road, the constant loud traffic noise was maddening. The 123 trail had a lot of users, but I passed no one on the parkway, not a bike or runner or walker. It doesn't connect to the neighborhoods, so only thru-riders use it.
At the path from Braddock Road back up to the parkway there was a fallen tree that forced me to walk my bike across a ditch to get around.
At route 29 I lost the Parkway Trail and took West Ox Road. For all I know that was the Parkway trail. By then the weather was turning colder and windier, so scrapped the idea of going to Herndon, got off the trail and went to the new REI at Fairfax Corner to buy some new bike-bling.

Don't know about the Parkway trail south of 123. Never ridden the trail north of Fair Lakes, but from what I can see from the Parkway it looks OK. The middle stretch that I rode was pretty grim, but probably works for a commuter route.

Maybe you could take a broom with you and clean it up a bit.

Where does this Fairfax County Parkway trail connect to the W&OD?

Where does this Fairfax County Parkway trail connect to the W&OD?
The W&OD crosses the Parkway by a bridge, between Herndon and Reston Town Center.
On the W&OD it is around milepost 19.
From the Parkway it is just north of the Dulles access road.
There's a connector path.

thanks for the info. Maybe I will take that route back home from work and try one of these two road routes to work. I drive the fairfax parkway everday and the trail does seem to disappear here and there. The worst seems to be right around fail lakes as you stated. The little info I found does say to take ox road right around there.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=55708

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6007

Happy to help.
If you make the ride all the way thru, please post a description of the connection on the north side of Fair Lakes. Mid-county I'm usually going e-w on Baddock Road, or n-s on route 123, but it would be nice to know the other connections.

whats traffic like on 123 and braddock? I could take backlick to braddock.

I would be on these roads between like 5am and 6am I figure.

Braddock and 123 both have sidepaths. 123's is on the east side, Braddocks' on the south. Both are in pretty good shape. I sometimes see bikes using the road instead of the sidepath, although both of those roads are too narrow and too busy for my comfort. The shoulders on 123 looks ok. Most of Braddock is c&g with no shoulder. I'll sometimes take a lane on a Sunday morning, but usually I stick to the paths.

5 to 6 am? Don't know. I'm up but not usually out by then.

I haven't ridden it since last August, but my old commute put me on the Parkway between the W&OD and Rte 50. Not quite Fairlakes. The trail is paved throughout this run, but I would usually ride the paved shoulder. The shoulder usually has far less debris and is a smoother run. The trail crossing at the Dulles Toll Road entrance and Spring Road is somewhat obstructed by the jersey barrier. I also hate riding the trail when I'm southbound because it is essentially going against traffic. The cars approaching from the left making rights onto the Parkway often roll across the trail, while looking left, before stopping. While the trail is separated from the roadway, I prefer riding with traffic on the shoulder where I can be seen. I would guess about 25% of the bike traffic and most roadies ride the shoulder on this stretch.

The five mile run between the W&OD and RTE 50 is a pretty good run, with nice rolling hills. During rush hour, sometimes you get the added benefit of passing cars at 20+ mph while they sit waiting in line at the stop lights.

the section from west ox to W&OD is the last leg of my commute and it's pretty nice. well paved, only a couple street crossings and well distanced from the road. i commute from arlington and feel fortunate to have the W&OD and FCPW trail the majority of the way.

freerangemike

You dont have any problem riding on the parkway itself? I will just do that then.